Tree Lightings & Holiday Events 2017

Holiday Events

(Visit our Holiday Bazaars and Craft Fairs list for holiday fairs.)

Wednesday, Dec. 20

'BEER & CAROLS,' Pittsfield, 7 p.m.: Zion Lutheran Church presents “Beer & Carols” at the church, 74 First St., the fifth annual installment of its popular Christmas sing-along that s intended to gather people together for a lively night of popular Christmas carols and songs. Leading the evening will be pianists Amy Renak and Timothy Weisman, along with Daniel Broad on string bass. Light food and non-alcoholic beverages will be served to all; beer and wine will be available for purchase. There is no admission fee; aA free-will offering will be taken to support the Cathedral of the Beloved, an outdoor worship and meal ministry in downtown Pittsfield reaching the homeless and the underserved.

Thursday, Dec. 21

HOOSAC VALLEY HOLIDAY CONCERT, Cheshire, 7 p.m.: The Performing Arts Department of Hoosac Valley High School will present a Holiday Performance at the school. Featured ensembles include the High School Concert Band, the High School Chorus and the High School Jazz Band. All groups are under the direction of Jacob Keplinger and Jonathan Rowe. Admission is free.

1753 HOUSE CAROL SING, Williamstown, 7 p.m.: The 44th annual 1753 House Carol Sing will be held at the 1753 House on Field Park. The 1753 House is located between the Williams Inn and the Milne Public Library at the northern intersection of Routes 2 and 7 in Williamstown.

Friday, Dec. 22

'IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE' (1946), Great Barrington, 7 p.m.: The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents a free screening of Frank Capra’s 1946 holiday drama "It’s a Wonderful Life," starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Designated the most inspirational movie of all time by the American Film Institute, "It’s a Wonderful Life" is a wonderful, feel-good movie to experience with friends and family.

Saturday, Dec. 23

CHARITY GIFT WRAP, Lee, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Mt. Everett Regional School Cheerleaders will provide gift wrapping services in exchange for a donation in the food court of the Lee Premium Outlets. All of the proceeds support the cheerleading program.

Sunday, Dec. 24

LESSONS & CAROLS AT THE SOUTHFIELD CHURCH, New Marlborough, 7 p.m.: The gift of music continues at the Southfield Church as our ecumenical community choir presents its annual Christmas Eve service, A Festival of Lessons & Carols. The service begins with a rousing ringing of the old bell and lasts approximately one hour. A Lessons & Carols service is a simple service consisting of nine scripture verses (or lessons) followed by a carol sung by the choir and occasionally the congregation. The choir’s carol arrangements span from the traditional, such as “Silent Night” sung by candlelight, to the jazz influenced “Still, Still, Still” reminiscent of the sound of the jazz vocal group, The Singers Unlimited. Everyone in the community is invited.    

Monday, Dec. 25

BE OUR GUEST CHRISTMAS DINNER, North Adams, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: The North Adams American Legion is sponsoring a Christmas dinner, featuring ham with soup, potato, vegetable and dessert. Those needing delivery can call 413-664-9004. All are welcome.

We will be adding new information on holiday events as they are submitted. Send information on your holiday events to info@iberkshires.com.

Christmas Tree Lightings

* ADAMS: Sunday, Nov. 26, 2-5 p.m., at the Adams Town Common. The tree-lighting ceremony will include free carriage rides and music, hot cocoa and coffee, and a visit from Santa.

* CLARKSBURG: Sunday, Nov. 26, 6 p.m. VFW Post 9144 and the Clarksburg Fire Department will host the annual Christmas tree lighting. All are asked to bring a non perishable food item to be donated to the Friendship Center Food Pantry in North Adams.  Santa will be there courtesy of the fire department.

* LANESBOROUGH: Thursday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m. The town of Lanesborough will hold its annual tree-lighting ceremony at Memorial Park next to the police station. There will be refreshments and entertainment provided by the LES chorus.

LENOX: Friday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m. The annual Lenox Christmas Tree Lighting will be held in Lilac Park. There will be cookies, hot chocolate and visits with Santa following the tree lighting at the Lenox Community Center.

* LENOX DALE: Sunday, Dec. 3, 6 p.m. The annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Lenox Dale will feature Santa arriving by fire engine at Veterans Memorial Park at the intersection of Walker & Crystal streets to light the tree. Following the lighting, Santa will greet the children at the Fire Station on Elm Street where gifts and refreshments will be distributed. Santa will also pose for photos with the children.

* NORTH ADAMS: Wednesday, Nov. 22, 6 p.m. at Monument Square. Caroling with the Drury Band, hot chocolate and the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Claus will arrive on the Fire Department's antique Mack Fire Engine with treats. Kicks off the annual Hometown Holiday. This year the Downtown Bike Around will join the procession down Main Street with bikes decorated in lights. (Raindate Dec. 1.)

* PITTSFIELD: Friday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m.: Pittsfield’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held at Park Square. The ceremony will include a performance by the Taconic High School Chorus, which will perform a variety of carols. Following the tree lighting, Santa and Mrs. Claus will make a special appearance; free hot chocolate will be available, courtesy of Patrick’s Pub. Those planning to attend the ceremony are asked to bring non-perishable food items that will be donated to the food pantry at the Christian Center, 193 Robbins Ave.

* SOUTH WILLIAMSTOWN: Sunday, Dec. 10, 5-7 p.m. The South Williamstown Community Association will host its tree lighting at The Store at Five Corners. There will be carol singing and refreshments; bring a flashlight to see the words on the song sheets. Stop by the Holiday Open House just next door at the Williamstown Historical Museum starting at 3:30 for a tour and music by Singing School as well as light holiday refreshments.

Drury High Students Get a Taste of Local Beef

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:25PM / Saturday, November 07, 2026

The pilot program is being funded by a $180K federal grant and is part of a partnership of Berkshire Agricultural Ventures and Mass Farms to School. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Drury High School students don't have to ask "where's the beef" from, now that the school has partnered to bring local meat into its food service system.

Nonprofit Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) is partnering with Mass Farms to School to bring locally produced ground beef to school cafeterias as part of a pilot initiative funded by a $180,133 USDA Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant. The program is named for the retired Vermont senator who wrote the original legislation in 2010. 

North Adams Public Schools is one of two school district partners on the pilot project, Lenox being the other. 

BAV hopes the project can takeoff and expand into more schools or institutions. 

"We're really hoping that it takes off, and that we, in the sense of we can work with, or more schools can be part of this in the future, and we can kind of work out the kinks, which I think is part of what this is all about" said Audrey Hackett, BAV's communications and development manager.

She said part of the nonprofit's mission is to help strengthen the local food system and work with local farmers.

"Part of BAV's larger work to strengthen our local food system. So a lot of what we do is work directly with farmers and support a lot of livestock farmers," she said. "More than 40 percent of our farmers in our region are livestock, and so we work directly with them oftentimes, but it's also increasingly an opportunity to work, you know, a level up at the food system level to bring together partners for projects like this that bring more local food into to our not only our schools. I mean, there are lots of opportunities across institutions throughout our region, hospitals, prison systems, nursing homes, and all of that remains to be done." 

Last week, students were having burgers made from meat brought by Marty's Local, a regional food distributor that works with more than 160 farms and food producers. 

Marty's Local CEO Sandra Thomas said it was great to partner with BAV to help bring the meat to the school, citing that getting more local meat into the market fills a gap in the local food system. Thomas was able to work with Cherry Point Beef, a Western Mass distributor that sources cattle from four local farms.

Food Services Director Thomas Lark said they are excited to be a part of the program and that it's important to be able to showcase local food on the menu, especially for the students to be able to try these new things.

"We want them to see local food on the menu, to know that it's coming from somewhere they recognize. A lot of the time with school lunch, there's a little impression of like, oh, what's this? Where did this come from?" he said. "And so, this is a great way to say, this is what it is. This is where it comes from. Like, it's just down the road. You've driven past here before, and have them understand that, like, we're serving local stuff too. It's not mystery meat from far away."

Lark also said they have been working with the meat since earlier this year, testing out new ideas to bring to the students like a Korean beef bowl.

"Was a new thing, but we thought new ingredient, new recipe, let's really highlight it, and it was pretty successful. We're running it again next Monday. Actually, Marty's truck was here this morning delivering the beef for next Monday, and we're going to run that again. And that was one where the students who were willing to try it really liked it, and were telling their friends like, "Oh, you should have gotten this." So we're excited for Monday, we'll probably see even more kids trying it out," he said.

The North Adams Public Schools were highlighted last year by the state for its farm-to-school initiatives to bring fresh, local produce to students. 

A couple students who had the burger for lunch said it was good.